I think scientists, frankly, have not done very well—we have not done our duty—in conveying to the general public what we do.
From Victor Frankenstein, Rotwang, and Rotwang to Bill Nye and the heroes of
Deep Impact, mad scientists have long appeared in science-fiction movies—though sometimes only to raise a laugh. In this discussion of the mad scientist and popular culture, film historian
Scott Curtis, physicist
Sidney Perkowitz, and astrophysicist
Rocky Kolb explore the stereotype of the mad scientist, examine his role, and dissect the meaning of this kind of humor in our culture.
Above: Illustration by Roberto Campus.